Cladding, cracks and shoddy apartments to cost Australians $6.2 billion to repair: CFMEU

Australia's building and construction crisis will cost $6.2 billion in remediation and associated costs, according to new research commissioned by the construction union.

The independent research, undertaken by Equity Economics and contained in the report 'Shaky Foundations: The National Construction Crisis', analysed the additional costs to owners of remediating water leaks, fire safety breaches, structural failure and combustible cladding and associated costs, in apartment buildings constructed within the last ten years.

The research also found that over 3,400 apartment buildings across Australia had defective, non-compliant combustible cladding installed, and would require remediation work to make the buildings safe.

CFMEU Construction and general division national secretary Dave Noonan said that the cost of Australia's building and construction crisis was now clear, and unfortunately often homeowners would likely be the ones to foot the majority of the bill.

"Australia's building and construction crisis will cost a staggering $6.2 billion to fix apartments they've already paid for."

"This includes the cost of remediating water leaks, fire safety breaches, structural failure and combustible cladding, and costs associated with increased insurance premiums, legal fees and alternative accommodation."

He added that in some cases, the costs of this remediation has been up to $165,000 per dwelling.

Australia's building and construction crisis was brought about by a range of factors the union has been raising concerns over for some time.

"This is the result of the construction industry's obsession with 'deregulation' at any cost, and poor oversight by government," Noonan added.

"It's the result of years of not enforcing building standards and of allowing industry to 'self-approve' with little or no oversight. Often, it has fallen on the union to blow the whistle."

Noonan also said that a national problem required a national solution and that the union was willing to work with government to resolve these important issues for the community.

"We'll be producing detailed policy solutions and will work with the Federal and State governments across Australia over the coming months. Now is the time to come together – not silence dissent," he concluded.